"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

-Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Am I The Only Mom...

Am I the only mom who mentally has to put on her big girl panties and remind herself that "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit" when it comes to her children?

Am I the only mom who tells her children that she's "done" with them in the morning, that they know when their ride leaves and she hopes they're on it with all their stuff finished because she was tired of pushing and pulling and nagging the entire morning?

Am I the only mom who struggles to find the "best" things about her child? 

Am I the only mom who feels that "each child has unique abilities and talents and shines in their own way" just might be a load of crap?

Am I the only mom who prays to see her child as God sees them because she knows that He didn't make a mistake, but some most days it seems like it? 

Am I the only mom who makes nachos for dinner and sits her kids down in the living room to watch "The Voice" because she's just too darn tired to engage?

Am I the only mom who wonders what it would feel like to be completely and overwhelmingly proud of their child for something...anything...because mostly they just aren't?

Am I the only mom who has now cried in the principal's office AND at a parent/teacher conference?

Am I the only mom whose prayers for her children come from a place so deep she didn't even know it existed only to feel as if they've fallen on deaf ears...again?

Am I the only mom who wonders if it wouldn't be better for the unthinkable to happen to her so that her children could put this stubborn perseverance they've been "gifted" with to good use?

Am I the only mom who feels like she doesn't have whatever it is that makes other moms so drunk with love for being a mom that she wonders if there is something secretly wrong with her?

Because it certainly feels like I'm the only one... 

Show and Tell: A Collection of Quilts

I haven't had the time lately to do a lot of sewing, but I did manage to get a few quilts made last Spring and Summer. With Eli having 2 teachers combined with Phoebe's Kindergarten teacher, I "whipped" up three quilts last Spring before school ended. And by "whipped up", I mean I started in March and finished them by the last day of school. 

This pink and black chevron quilt was for Phoebe's Kinder teacher, Mrs. Boaz, who only has boys. I was happy to make her a girly-girl quilt.

Mrs. Reed, Eli's Science/Math teacher received this red and turquoise quilt.

 Mrs. Gjerde, his Homeroom/Language Arts teacher was gifted this happy quilt and it couldn't have suited her personality better.

I'm not a huge fan of quilt labels because I think they take away from the look of the quilt. However, I do have the kids write a sweet note to each teacher and use those as labels. They were super sweet this year.

Call me crazy, but if I can make someone cry with my gift, then I have succeeded! :) Not because I'm cruel, but that's how I know I've done it right.

Why do I sew quilts for my children's teachers? Isn't that just a little too much? I don't think so. And it isn't because I'm trying to show up the other moms in the classroom...'cause you know I'm screwing up in lots of other areas so that's not it. I'm a gift-giver. It's my love language. I wish I spoke a more noble love language like quality time or words of affirmation, but gift-giving is my thing...and I'm really good at it. These teachers work really hard all year long. In so many ways, they are parenting my children right along with me. For nine months, they worry and work and love on my children. Even if we've had our differences or we wouldn't necessarily be friends outside of school, they are doing their absolute best to make sure my children succeed. This last year, we *loved* our teachers...professionally and personally. These quilts are a sad, small token of our gratitude. They helped write a beautiful chapter in my children's lives and I hope these quilts remind them of that every time they see them.

This summer, I made a little baby quilt for my friend, STEPHANIE. She has an amazing story (that's too long to tell here!) and it was a pleasure to make a baby quilt for her new baby son, Levi.

It even made it to her before she delivered...barely! :)

Phoebe at Play

So I haven't come back with a bang as I meant to, but I think one of the reasons I don't have as much posting material is because my children are past the "cute" stage. 

They aren't the cute, cuddly babies they once were who were merely photo worthy because they existed and they aren't silly, sweet toddlers either. They seem to be big kids now. (Eli even swears he's a tween...God help us!) Their days consist of school and practice and homework and dinner and that's about it. 

But every once in awhile they do something precious.  Like when Phoebe set up her own hair salon after I bribed her with the SALON CHAIR from Target if she'd eat all the healthy food in her lunch for 20 school days. She finally managed it a couple weeks ago and then couldn't wait to play with it.

Phoebe is still pretty sure she wants to be a hair stylist (or hair lady as she calls it) and this was good "practice". Her "client" was willing to have the whole package done that day!

Just like any hair stylist, they talked about how great the client's hair looks, how long the appointment is taking, and the words Phoebe has "learned" in "Spanish"...like "mitzy" means "hello". She's very multicultural, that one.

Kit couldn't leave without having her eyebrows done! She just wouldn't look right! It's a good thing for Kit I had left my laundry baskets out. She might have left the salon unplucked!

It makes my heart happy to see my children play. 

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

Ralph Waldo Emerson